Page 15 - Leisure Living Magazine June 2019

Going Barefoot? Beware!
By Molly S. Judge DPM, FACFAS, www.mollyjudge.com
Parents
and families
can prevent
cuts, puncture wounds and
other injuries
when going barefoot by fol-
lowing some
simple recom- mendations
from one Ohio
foot and ankle surgeon.
“Shoes are the best way to protect your family’s feet from injuries,” says Molly Judge, DPM, FAC- FAS. “But if your summer just wouldn’t be the same without kicking off your shoes or sandals, you can still make it a safe season.”
Dr. Judge works in Port Clinton, Ohio conve- niently located near Magruder hospital. She offers these tips for a safer barefoot summer:
See a foot and ankle surgeon within 24 hours for a puncture wound.
Why: These injuries can embed unsterile for- eign objects deep inside the foot. A puncture wound must be cleaned properly and monitored throughout the healing process. This will help to avoid complications, such as tissue and bone in- fections or damage to tendons and muscles in the foot. Foot and ankle surgeons are trained to prop- erly care for these injuries.
Make sure you’ve been vaccinated against tet- anus. Experts recommend teens and adults get a booster shot every 10 years.
Why: Cuts and puncture wounds from sharp objects can lead to infections and illnesses such as tetanus.
Apply sunscreen to the tops and bottoms of your feet.
Why: Feet get sunburn too. According to Foot- Physicians.com, rare but deadly skin cancers can
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moles, spots or freckles.
develop on the feet.
Inspect your feet and your children’s feet on a routine basis for skin problems such as warts, cal- luses, ingrown toenails and suspicious
Why: The earlier a skin condition is detected, the easier it is for your foot and ankle surgeon to treat it.
Wear flip-flops or sandals around swimming pools, locker rooms and beaches.
Why: To avoid cuts and abrasions from rough anti-slip surfaces and sharp objects hidden be- neath sandy beaches, and to prevent contact with bacteria and viruses that can cause athlete’s foot, plantar warts, and other skin problems.
Use common sense.
Why: Every year, people suffer from lawn mow- er injuries and can even lose toes while mowing the lawn barefoot. Others suffer serious burns from accidentally stepping on stray campfire coals or fireworks. Murky rivers, lakes and ponds can conceal sharp objects underwater. People with diabetes should never go barefoot, even indoors, because their skin and sensory nerves may not “feel” an injury and their circulatory system will struggle to heal breaks in the skin or infection.
Molly S. Judge DPM, FACFAS completed a three-year surgical residency program in major reconstructive sur- gery for the leg, foot and ankle. She is a Board Certified Foot and Ankle Surgeon with further Board certification in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery. Her office is in Port Clinton, Ohio one block from Magruder Hospital, treating all of NW Ohio and beyond for second opinion, surgical consultations and general foot and ankle com- laints.
June 2019 LeisureLiving | 15